The Manager – Planning will be responsible for driving end-to-end planning excellence across inventory, demand, supply, and production functions. The role demands a data-driven professional who can translate forecast insights into actionable plans, optimize stock levels, and ensure seamless product availability across channels — supporting the organization's growth objectives in a dynamic eyewear market.
Responsibilities:
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Develop and maintain optimal inventory levels across all SKUs — frames, lenses, accessories, and spare parts.
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Define and monitor inventory norms including safety stock, reorder points, and maximum stock levels.
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Conduct regular inventory health assessments and initiate corrective actions for slow-moving or ageing stock.
2. Demand Planning
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Develop short, medium, and long-term demand forecasts using statistical models and market intelligence.
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Collaborate with sales, marketing, and merchandising teams to incorporate promotional plans, new launches, and seasonal trends into forecasts.
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Conduct SKU-level demand analysis to identify growth opportunities and rationalize underperforming products.
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Facilitate monthly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) reviews with cross-functional stakeholders.
3. Supply Planning
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Translate demand plans into supply requirements and coordinate with procurement and vendor teams to ensure timely material availability.
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Manage supplier lead times, capacity constraints, and order schedules to maintain uninterrupted supply flow.
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Monitor and resolve supply gaps, escalating critical shortfalls to leadership with mitigation plans.
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Evaluate alternate sourcing options and maintain vendor performance scorecards.
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Drive supply chain risk assessments and build contingency plans for critical material categories.
4. Production Planning
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Develop and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) aligned with demand forecasts and capacity availability.
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Coordinate with manufacturing teams to schedule production runs.
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Monitor production adherence to schedule and initiate corrective actions to address deviations.
5. Inventory Replenishment
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Design and execute replenishment strategies for retail outlets, warehouses, and e-commerce fulfilment centres.
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Monitor replenishment triggers and automate order generation through ERP/planning tools wherever feasible.
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Optimize replenishment frequency and order quantities to minimize carrying costs while maintaining service levels.
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Track On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) metrics and take proactive actions to prevent stockouts or overstocking.
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Collaborate with logistics and warehouse teams to ensure smooth inbound and outbound replenishment flows.
